A troubling security failure has emerged following the deadly school trip explosion in northern Israel, with new information revealing that Maalot-Tarshiha had been operating without a security officer responsible for educational institutions when a student was killed by unexploded military ordnance.

The municipality had reportedly been without an education security officer since the beginning of October, following the resignation of the previous official amid concerns about deficiencies in school security procedures.

The disclosure comes after Elazar Yair Vilensky z”l, a student at ORT Maalot, was killed Monday when unexploded ordnance detonated during a school outing in the Ramim Ridge area near Israel’s northern border.

The preliminary findings indicate that a security inspection of the planned hiking route may not have been conducted before the students entered the area. Investigators are examining the procedures used to approve the outing and determine whether the route had been adequately inspected.

Authorities are also investigating the presence of unexploded military ordnance near the hiking trail. The explosion injured several additional students and prompted calls for stronger security inspections of school trip routes in areas where military operations have taken place.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)